Liz Cheney says she would leave GOP if Trump is the nominee in 2024

Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., says she will leave the Republican party if former President Donald Trump is the 2024 GOP nominee.

"If he is the nominee, I won't be a Republican," Cheney said in an appearance at the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin on Saturday.

Cheney, who lost her bid for reelection in the August primary against Trump-backed challenger Harriet Hageman, also said she would be willing to campaign for Democrats in 2022 and 2024.

"I certainly will do whatever it takes to make sure Donald Trump isn't anywhere close to the Oval Office," Cheney said.

Cheney said the same when asked about Arizona GOP gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, a supporter of Trump’s false election claims.

"I am going to do everything I can to make sure that Kari Lake is not elected," Cheney said.

Asked whether that meant potentially campaigning for Democrats, Cheney replied: "Yes, it does."

Since her primary loss, speculation has swirled around Cheney's own potential 2024 presidential bid. But Cheney was not interested in discussing any plans on Saturday.

"What are we going to do to make sure that our kids know what it means to have peaceful transfers of power?" she said when asked about a possible run for the White House. "And what are we going to do to make sure that we don't contribute to the unraveling of the Republic? ... That's what I'm focused on."

Cheney serves as co-chair of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection, which will hold its next hearing on Wednesday.

“We don’t anticipate that it will be the last hearing,” Cheney said.